Secure pairing of devices via pairing facilitator-intermediary device

ABSTRACT

The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to systems and circuitry for and/or methods of establishing communication having one or more pairing facilitator-intermediary devices (for example, a network connected server) to enable or facilitate pairing and/or registering at least two devices (e.g., (i) a portable biometric monitoring device and (ii) a smartphone, laptop and/or tablet) to, for example, recognize, interact and/or enable interoperability between such devices. The pairing facilitator-intermediary device may responsively communicates information to one or more of the devices (to be paired or registered) which, in response, enable or facilitate such devices to pair or register. The present inventions may be advantageous where one or both of the devices to be paired or registered is/are not configured (e.g., include a user interface or certain communication circuitry that is configured or includes functionality) to pair devices without use of a facilitator-intermediary device.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

An Application Data Sheet is filed concurrently with this specificationas part of the present application. Each application that the presentapplication claims benefit of or priority to as identified in theconcurrently filed Application Data Sheet is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety and for all purposes.

INTRODUCTION

In one aspect, the present inventions relate to systems and circuitryfor and/or methods of establishing communication having one or morepairing facilitator-intermediary devices (for example, a networkconnected server) to enable or facilitate pairing and/or registering twoor more devices (for example, (i) a portable biometric monitoring deviceand (ii) a smartphone, laptop and/or tablet) to, for example, recognize,interact and/or identify such devices and/or enable interoperabilitybetween such devices. In one embodiment, the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device responsively communicates data and/orinstructions to one or more of the devices (to be paired or registered)which, in response, enable or facilitate such devices to pair orregister. The present inventions may be advantageous where one or bothof the devices to be paired or registered do not include or employfunctionality and/or resident circuitry (for example, an interface (forexample, a user interface) or resident communication circuitry) thatallows, enables or permits a user to pair and/or register the devices.For example, where the device to be paired or registered do not possessa, or employ its user interface and/or communication circuitry which issuitable for selection, entering and/or communicating data to itscounterpart device (for example, via communicating out-of-band data).

Notably, pairing or registering devices may be characterized as enablinginteroperability between such devices and/or an initialization processwhich creates a link (for example, a lasting and/or sustainable link)between two or more devices to facilitate, allow and/or make possiblefuture communication between the devices. After the pairing process iscomplete, one or more of the devices involved in the pairing process maysave information about one or more of the other devices so that when anew, subsequent and/or future communication link is to be set-up, littleor no user interaction is required to create the connection. Similarly,registering devices with each other or with a third device allowssubsequent and/or future communication between two or more of thedevices to occur with little or no user interaction.

In one embodiment, one or more of the devices to be paired or registeredis/are portable biometric monitoring device(s). Such portable biometricmonitoring device(s) may, according to embodiments described herein,have shapes and/or sizes that are/is adapted for coupling to (forexample, secured to, worn, carried or borne by, etc.) the body orclothing of a user and, when worn, do not impede motion, activity or thelike of the user. Examples of portable biometric monitoring devices areshown in FIGS. 1-5. Some portable biometric monitoring devices such asthose in FIGS. 1-2 may have a display and a button. Other portablebiometric monitoring devices may have more limited user interfaces suchas those shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5. Indeed, some portable biometricmonitoring devices may have little or no user interface features such asdisplays, indicators, or buttons. In one embodiment, the devices collectone or more types of physiological and/or environmental data fromembedded sensors and/or external devices and communicate or relay suchinformation to other devices, including devices capable of serving as anInternet-accessible data sources, thus permitting the collected data tobe viewed, for example, using a web browser or network-basedapplication. For example, while the user is wearing a biometricmonitoring device, the device may calculate and store the user's stepcount using one or more sensors. The device then transmits datarepresentative of the user's step count to an account on a web service(for example, www.fitbit.com), computer, mobile phone, or health stationwhere the data may be stored, processed, and visualized by the user.Indeed, the device may measure or calculate a plurality of otherphysiological metrics in addition to, or in place of, the user's stepcount.

Notably, other physiological metrics include, but are not limited to,energy expenditure (for example, calorie burn), floors climbed and/ordescended, heart rate, heart rate variability, heart rate recovery,location and/or heading (for example, through GPS), elevation,ambulatory speed and/or distance traveled, swimming lap count, bicycledistance and/or speed, blood pressure, blood glucose, skin conduction,skin and/or body temperature, electromyography, electroencephalography,weight, body fat, caloric intake, nutritional intake from food,medication intake, sleep periods (i.e., clock time), sleep phases, sleepquality and/or duration, pH levels, hydration levels, and respirationrate. The device may also measure or calculate metrics related to theenvironment around the user such as barometric pressure, weatherconditions (for example, temperature, humidity, pollen count, airquality, rain/snow conditions, wind speed), light exposure (for example,ambient light, UV light exposure, time and/or duration spent indarkness), noise exposure, radiation exposure, and magnetic field.

Furthermore, the device or the system collating the data streams maycalculate metrics derived from this data. For example, the device orsystem may calculate the user's stress and/or relaxation levels througha combination of heart rate variability, skin conduction, noisepollution, and sleep quality. In another example, the device or systemmay determine the efficacy of a medical intervention (for example,medication) through the combination of medication intake, sleep and/oractivity data. In yet another example, the device or system maydetermine the efficacy of an allergy medication through the combinationof pollen data, medication intake, sleep and/or activity data. Theseexamples are provided for illustration only and are not intended to belimiting or exhaustive. Further embodiments and implementations ofsensor devices are described and/or illustrated in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/156,304, entitled “Portable Biometric MonitoringDevices and Methods of Operating Same” filed Jun. 8, 2011, which isincorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the course of the detailed description to follow, reference will bemade to the attached drawings. These drawings show different aspects ofthe present inventions and, where appropriate, reference numeralsillustrating like structures, components, materials and/or elements indifferent figures are labeled similarly. The various embodimentsdisclosed herein are illustrated by way of example, and not by way oflimitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to the same and/or similarstructures/components/features/elements. It is understood that variouscombinations of the structures, components, features and/or elements,other than those specifically shown, are contemplated and are within thescope of the present inventions.

Moreover, there are many inventions described and illustrated herein.The present inventions are neither limited to any single aspect norembodiment thereof, nor to any combinations and/or permutations of suchaspects and/or embodiments. Moreover, each of the aspects of the presentinventions, and/or embodiments thereof, may be employed alone or incombination with one or more of the other aspects of the presentinventions and/or embodiments thereof. For the sake of brevity, certainpermutations and combinations are not discussed and/or illustratedseparately herein.

The various embodiments disclosed herein are illustrated by way ofexample, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of theaccompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer tosimilar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a portable monitoring device.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a portable monitoring device having abutton and a dead front display.

FIG. 3 illustrates a user extremity mounted portable monitoring devicehaving a button, display, and a band.

FIG. 4A illustrates a portable monitoring device having multiple LED'sto display information to the user.

FIG. 4B illustrates a portable monitoring device having multiple LED'sto display information to the user.

FIG. 5 illustrates a band case for a portable biometric monitoringdevice and a portable biometric monitoring device having multiple LED'sto display information to the user.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system in which a firstdevice and a second device directly communicate with each other as wellas communicate with a pairing facilitator-intermediary device to enableand implement a pairing or registering process.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system in which thefirst device bi-directionally communicates with the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device and the second device receives dataand/or instructions from the pairing facilitator-intermediary device,and the first and second devices communicate with each other toimplement the pairing or registering process.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system in which thefirst device communicates with the pairing facilitator-intermediarydevice and the second device sends data to the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device, and the first and second devicescommunicate to implement the pairing or registering process.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system in which thefirst device communicates with the pairing facilitator-intermediarydevice and the first and second devices communicate to implement thepairing or registering process.

FIG. 10 illustrates, in block diagram form, an embodiment having a firstdevice, second device, third device and facilitator-intermediary devicewherein the interaction between the first device and second device witheach other and with a pairing facilitator-intermediary device occurs tofacilitate pairing or registering processes.

FIG. 11 illustrates, in block diagram form, an embodiment having a firstdevice, second device, third device and facilitator-intermediary devicewherein the interaction between the first device and second device witheach other and with a pairing facilitator-intermediary device occurs tofacilitate pairing or registering processes.

FIG. 12 illustrates, in block diagram form, an embodiment having a firstdevice, second device, third device and facilitator-intermediary devicewherein the interaction between the first device and second device witheach other and with a pairing facilitator-intermediary device occurs tofacilitate pairing or registering processes.

FIG. 13 illustrates, in block diagram form, an embodiment having a firstdevice, second device, third device and facilitator-intermediary devicewherein the interaction between the first device and second device witheach other and with a pairing facilitator-intermediary device occurs tofacilitate pairing or registering processes.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an embodiment having a first device,second device and facilitator-intermediary device wherein theinteraction between the first device and second device with a pairingfacilitator-intermediary device facilitates pairing or registeringprocesses.

FIG. 15A illustrates, in block diagram form, a first and/or seconddevice(s) to be paired, notably, the device may communicate using anytechnique, protocols and/or circuitry now known or later developedincluding wireless, wired and optical techniques.

FIG. 15B illustrates, in block diagram form, a first and/or seconddevice(s) having a device to be paired and an interface device.

FIG. 15C illustrates, in block diagram form, first and second devices,according to embodiments of the present inventions, second device usescircuitry in the first device to communicate with the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device.

FIG. 16 illustrates, in block diagram form, an embodiment where a firstdevice is already paired to a second device, but is to be paired to athird device.

FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment where multiple pairingfacilitator-intermediary devices in communication with each other maysend and/or receive data and/or instructions with a first and/or seconddevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a portable biometric or activity sensoror monitoring device (hereinafter collectively “portable biometricmonitoring device”) having a button and a display and including ahousing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple tothe body of the user.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a portable biometric monitoring devicehaving a button and a dead front display; notably, in the dead frontdisplay, the display is obscured from view when the display is offtypically by placing a semi-transparent material in front of thedisplay.

FIG. 3 illustrates a user extremity (for example, wrist or ankle)mounted portable biometric monitoring device having a button, display,and a band (having protrusions and notches/apertures) to secure theportable biometric monitoring device to the wrist or ankle of a user;notably, any mechanism or technique now known or later developed may beemployed to physically couple the portable biometric monitoring deviceto the user.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrates a portable biometric monitoring devicehaving multiple LED's to display information to the user; notably, anymechanism or technique now known or later developed may be employed tophysically couple or “attach” the portable biometric monitoring deviceto the user; for example, the sensor case of FIG. 5 may be employed orthe portable biometric monitoring device attached to a band (like, forexample, an arm or wrist/watch band); indeed, the portable biometricmonitoring device need not include any attachment mechanism and may, forexample, be physically coupled or “attached” to the user via beingdisposed in a pocket of clothing, a sock and/or shoe/sneaker of theuser.

In one embodiment, an activity monitoring device, as shown in FIG. 4Bhas a housing defined by a molded structure that is elongated along adimension that extends between a first end and a second end of themolded structure. The molded structure has an interior space. Theactivity monitoring device further has a circuit board dimensioned tofit within the interior space. The circuit board has a sensor, anelectronics unit, and a memory. The memory is used for storing activitydata and the circuit board further has an antenna and at least one lightemitting diode. The activity monitoring device has a cap that connectsto the second end of the molded structure to enclose the circuit boardwithin the interior space. The activity monitoring device has acommunication contact disposed at a surface of the first end of themolded structure. The communication contact provides a contact to chargea battery that is coupled to the circuit board.

In an embodiment, light emitted from the at least one light emittingdiode, when active, is viewable from an exterior surface of the moldedstructure.

In one embodiment, the antenna communicates via radio frequency waveswith a computing device to facilitate communication of the activity dataor receive instructions from the computing device.

In one embodiment, the molded structure has an opening at the second endto allow entry from and exit of the circuit board with respect to theinterior space.

In an embodiment, the interior space is bounded by walls of the moldedstructure and the opening. The first end includes one of the walls.

In one embodiment, the second end encompasses an opening to allowpassage of the circuit board into and out of the opening.

In an embodiment, the cap includes a lip portion that fits within thehousing.

In one embodiment, activity data includes an environmental metric or aphysiological metric.

In an embodiment, the activity monitoring device includes a transmitterand receiver unit associated with the circuit board and coupled to theantenna to enable communication of the activity data.

In one embodiment, the activity monitoring device includes a transmitterand receiver unit. The electronics unit sends the activity data via thetransmitter unit and the antenna to a computing device.

In an embodiment, the computing device includes a portable electronicdevice.

In one embodiment, the cap detaches from the second end of the moldedstructure to allow removal of the circuit board from the interior space.

In one embodiment, the molded structure has a substantially tubularshape.

In an embodiment, the substantially tubular shape has rounded edges andsubstantially straight walls.

In one embodiment, the electronics unit is configured to receive theactivity data from the sensor for storage in the memory or fortransferring to a computing device via the antenna.

In an embodiment, a method includes generating activity data when a useris performing an activity. The activity data is detected by a sensor ofa monitoring device worn by a user. The method further includesaccessing the activity data from a memory device of the monitoringdevice. The memory device is located in an interior space of a housingof the monitoring device. The method includes communicating the activitydata from an electronic device located inside the housing via atransmitter and an antenna to a computing device located outside thehousing. The antenna and the transmitter are located inside the housing.The housing is enclosed by a cap and includes a battery that is chargedvia a communication contact. The communication contact is located at afirst end of the housing and the antenna located at a second end of thehousing.

In an embodiment, the method includes sending pairing informationassociated with the monitoring device via a computing device to aserver. The method includes pairing of the monitoring device with thecomputing device after the pairing information is received by thecomputing device from the server.

In one embodiment, the method includes sending the activity data via acomputing device to a server.

In an embodiment, the activity includes swimming, bicycling, orsleeping.

FIG. 5 illustrates a band case for a portable biometric monitoringdevice and a portable biometric monitoring device having multiple LED'sto display information to the user, wherein this illustrative example, asensor case (in which the portable biometric monitoring device may bedisposed during operation) is physically coupled to the user viastraps/bands having protrusions or posts (or the like) on the firststrap/band to engage notches or apertures on the second strap/band tosecure the sensor case to the user (for example, to a wrist, arm orleg); notably, any mechanism or technique now known or later developedmay be employed to physically couple the sensor case and/or portablebiometric monitoring device to the user—for example, the sensor case maybe attached to a band (like, for example, an arm or wrist/watch band);indeed, the sensor case and/or portable biometric monitoring device neednot include any attachment mechanism and may, for example, be physicallycoupled or “attached” to the user via being disposed in a pocket ofclothing, a sock and/or shoe/sneaker of the user.

In an embodiment, a wearable band includes a strap having a protrusionlocated along a portion of a length of the strap. The strap has notcheslocated along another portion of the length of the strap. The protrusionengages with a selected one of the notches. The wearable band includes acavity for holding an activity monitoring device. The activitymonitoring device includes a housing defined by a molded structure thatis elongated along a dimension that extends between a first end and asecond end of the molded structure. The molded structure has an interiorspace. The activity monitoring device further includes a circuit boarddimensioned to fit within the interior space. The circuit board has asensor, an electronics unit, and a memory. The memory stores activitydata. The circuit board has an antenna and at least one light emittingdiode. The activity monitoring device has a cap that connects to thesecond end of the molded structure to enclose the circuit board withinthe interior space. The activity monitoring device includes acommunication contact disposed at a surface of the first end of themolded structure. The communication contact provides a contact to chargea battery that is coupled to the circuit board.

In one embodiment, the strap has a width and a depth and the length isgreater than the width and the width is greater than the depth.

In an embodiment, the protrusion extends into and fit with one of thenotches.

In an embodiment, one of the notches includes an aperture forsurrounding the protrusion when engaged with the protrusion.

In an embodiment, the activity monitoring device includes at one lightemitter. Light emitted from the at least one light emitter, when active,is viewable from an exterior surface of the molded structure.

In one embodiment, a method includes generating activity data when auser is performing an activity. The activity data is detected by asensor of a monitoring device that fits within a pouch of a strap. Thestrap has a protrusion located along a portion of a length of the strap.The strap has notches located along another portion of the length of thestrap. The protrusion engages with a selected one of the notches. Themethod further includes accessing the activity data from a memory deviceof the monitoring device. The memory device is located in an interiorspace of a housing of the monitoring device. The method includescommunicating the activity data from an electronic device located insidethe housing via an antenna to a computing device located outside thehousing. The antenna is located inside the housing, which is enclosed bya cap. The housing includes a battery for being charged via acommunication contact, which is located at a first end of the housing.The antenna is located at a second end of the housing.

In an embodiment, the method includes sending pairing informationassociated with the monitoring device via a computing device to aserver. The method further includes pairing with the computing deviceafter the pairing information is received by the computing device fromthe server.

FIGS. 6-9 illustrate, in block diagram form, embodiments having a firstdevice (for example, a portable biometric monitoring device), seconddevice (for example, a smartphone) and facilitator-intermediary device(for example, a server) wherein interaction between the first device andsecond device with a pairing facilitator-intermediary device facilitatepairing or registering processes, according to embodiments of thepresent inventions; in one embodiment, the first and second devicedirectly communicate with each other as well as communicate (forexample, send and/or receive data and/or instructions) with the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device to enable and/or implement the pairingor registering process (see, for example, FIG. 6); in anotherembodiment, the first device bi-directionally communicates (for example,sends and/or receives data and/or instructions) with the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device, the second device receives data and/orinstructions from the pairing facilitator-intermediary device, and thefirst and second devices communicate to implement the pairing orregistering process (see, for example, FIG. 7); in another embodiment,the first device communicates (for example, sends and/or receives dataand/or instructions) with the pairing facilitator-intermediary deviceand the second device sends data to the pairing facilitator-intermediarydevice, wherein the first and second devices communicate to implementthe pairing or registering process (see, for example, FIG. 8); in yetanother embodiment, the first device communicates (for example, sendsand/or receives data and/or instructions with the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device) and the first and second devicescommunicate to implement the pairing or registering process (see, forexample, FIG. 9); notably, the first and second devices may communicateusing any technique, protocols and/or circuitry now known or laterdeveloped including wireless, wired and optical techniques; moreover, itshould be noted that the communication channel between first and seconddevice may be unsecure before pairing is complete whereas thecommunication channel between the first device and the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device (and, in certain embodiments, to thesecondary device as well) and/or the communication channel between thesecond device and the pairing facilitator-intermediary device (and, incertain embodiments, to the first device as well) are trusted or securecommunication channel(s) after the first and second device have beenpaired to the pairing facilitator-intermediary device (see, for example,FIGS. 6-14,16 and 17).

FIGS. 10-13 illustrate, in block diagram form, embodiments having afirst device, second device, third device and facilitator-intermediarydevice wherein the interaction between the first device and seconddevice with each other and with a pairing facilitator-intermediarydevice to facilitate pairing or registering processes, according toembodiments of the present inventions; in one embodiment, the first andsecond device may communicate directly with facilitator-intermediarydevice and exchange secure data and/or instructions through a thirddevice to enable and/or implement the pairing or registering process;the notably, the embodiment of exchanging secure data and/orinstructions through a third device to enable and/or implement thepairing or registering process may be implemented in any of theembodiments hereof, including those of FIGS. 6-9.

FIG. 14 illustrates, in block diagram form, an embodiment having a firstdevice, second device and facilitator-intermediary device wherein theinteraction between the first device and second device with a pairingfacilitator-intermediary device facilitate pairing or registeringprocesses, according to embodiments of the present inventions, whereinfirst and second device send and/or receive data, instructions, and/orsecure data with the pairing facilitator-intermediary device through oneor multiple communication channels.

FIG. 15A illustrates, in block diagram form, a first and/or seconddevice(s) to be paired (for example, a portable biometric monitoringdevice, laptop, smartphone, desktop computer or server); notably, thedevice may communicate (for example, data and/or instructions) using anytechnique, protocols and/or circuitry now known or later developedincluding wireless, wired and optical techniques.

FIG. 15B illustrates, in block diagram form, a first and/or seconddevice(s) having a device to be paired and an interface device,according to embodiments of the present inventions, wherein the deviceof FIG. 15B may be implemented in any of the embodiments describedand/or illustrated herein, wherein the device to be paired (for example,a portable biometric monitoring device) and/or interface device (forexample, a laptop, tablet computer, or smartphone) may send and/orreceive data, for example, wirelessly; notably, the device to be pairedand/or interface device may communicate with each other through one ormultiple techniques, protocols and/or circuitry now known or laterdeveloped, including but not limited to wired, wireless, or opticalcommunication.

FIG. 15C illustrates, in block diagram form, first and second devices(i.e., the devices to be paired), according to embodiments of thepresent inventions, second device uses circuitry in the first device tocommunicate (for example, send and/or receive data and/or instructionswith the pairing facilitator-intermediary device) and, using the dataand/or instructions, the first and second devices subsequentlycommunicate to implement the pairing or registering process; notably,the first and second devices may communicate using any technique,protocols and/or circuitry now known or later developed includingwireless, wired and optical techniques; moreover, it should be notedthat the second device may communicate through a secure communicationchannel to the pairing facilitator-intermediary device usingcommunication circuitry on the first device to transfer communicationfrom the second device to the pairing facilitator-intermediary deviceand/or transfer communication from the pairing facilitator-intermediarydevice to the second device before and/or after pairing using techniquessuch as encryption, obfuscation, or any other method which makes itimpossible or difficult for the first device to intercept, interpret,and/or modify data or instructions sent from the second device to thepairing facilitator-intermediary device and/or data or instructions sentfrom the pairing facilitator-intermediary device to the second device.

FIG. 16 illustrates, in block diagram form, an embodiment where a firstdevice is already paired to a second device, but is to be paired to athird device, accordingly to an embodiment of the present inventions;here, a pairing facilitator-intermediary device may send and/or receivedata and/or instructions from the second and the third device may assistor facilitate and/or automatically implement the pairing process betweenthe first and third device.

FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment where multiple pairingfacilitator-intermediary devices in communication with each other maysend and/or receive data and/or instructions with a first and/or seconddevice, according to one or more embodiments of the presentedinventions.

Again, there are many inventions described and illustrated herein. Thepresent inventions are neither limited to any single aspect norembodiment thereof, nor to any combinations and/or permutations of suchaspects and/or embodiments. Each of the aspects of the presentinventions, and/or embodiments thereof, may be employed alone or incombination with one or more of the other aspects of the presentinventions and/or embodiments thereof. For the sake of brevity, many ofthose combinations and permutations are not discussed separately herein.

Moreover, many other aspects, inventions and embodiments, which may bedifferent from and/or similar to, the aspects, inventions andembodiments illustrated in the drawings, will be apparent from thedescription, illustrations and claims, which follow. In addition,although various features and attributes have been illustrated in thedrawings and/or are apparent in light thereof, it should be understoodthat such features and attributes, and advantages thereof, are notrequired whether in one, some or all of the embodiments of the presentinventions and, indeed, need not be present in any of the embodiments ofthe present inventions.

At the outset, it should be noted that there are many inventionsdescribed and illustrated herein. The present inventions are neitherlimited to any single aspect nor embodiment thereof, nor to anycombinations and/or permutations of such aspects and/or embodiments.Moreover, each of the aspects of the present inventions, and/orembodiments thereof, may be employed alone or in combination with one ormore of the other aspects of the present inventions and/or embodimentsthereof. For the sake of brevity, many of those permutations andcombinations will not be discussed separately herein.

Further, in the course of describing and illustrating the presentinventions, various circuitry, architectures, structures, components,functions and/or elements, as well as combinations and/or permutationsthereof, are set forth. It should be understood that circuitry,architectures, structures, components, functions and/or elements otherthan those specifically described and illustrated, are contemplated andare within the scope of the present inventions, as well as combinationsand/or permutations thereof.

With that in mind, in one aspect, the present inventions are directed totechniques and systems having one or more pairingfacilitator-intermediary devices to enable or facilitate pairing and/orregistering two or more devices to, for example, recognize, interactand/or identify such devices and/or enable interoperability between suchdevices. In one embodiment, the pairing facilitator-intermediary device(for example, a server, laptop or desktop computer) responsivelycommunicates data and/or instructions to one or both of the deviceswhich, in response, enable or facilitate the two devices to pair orregister. The present inventions may be advantageous where one or bothof the devices to be paired or registered do not include or employfunctionality and/or resident circuitry (for example, an interface (forexample, a user interface) or resident communication circuitry) thatallows, enables or permits a user to pair and/or register the one ormore devices. For example, where the device to be paired or registereddoes not possess a, or employ its user interface and/or communicationcircuitry which is suitable for selection, entering and/or communicatingdata to its counterpart device (for example, via communicatingout-of-band data) which would implement a pairing or registeringoperation. Such devices may include, but are not limited to portablebiometric monitoring devices such as those shown in FIGS. 1-5 which haveone or no buttons or the like (other user input mechanism).

With reference to FIGS. 6-14, one or more devices to be paired,identified or registered separately (in the illustrative example, firstand second devices) communicate with a pairing facilitator-intermediarydevice (for example, a computer, computing system, website and/orservice (and/or website or service computing host)). The first andsecond devices to be paired, identified or registered may communicatewith the pairing facilitator-intermediary device directly and/or via aninterface device (for example, any type of computing or communicationdevice (such as a smart phone, router, and/or computer)). (See, FIGS.15A and 15B, respectively). The communication with the interface deviceand the pairing facilitator-intermediary device may be, for example,wired, wireless and/or optical wherein the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device provides data and/or instructions to oneor both of the first and/or second devices to facilitate or enable thefirst and second devices to pair, register and/or identify with theother.

In one embodiment, the devices to be paired or registered (for example,automatically and/or in response to a user input) are paired orregistered (for example, via the user) with the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device. The pairing facilitator-intermediarydevice may present or offer a user or a system with one or more devicesthat, for example, are (i) capable of being paired/registered, (ii)available to be paired/registered, (iii) should be paired/registeredand/or (iv) currently paired/registered. In response thereto, the useror system may indicate, select and/or identify the devices to bepaired/registered with each other. That is, with reference to FIG. 6,the user may indicate that the first and second devices are to be pairedor registered to, for example, enable the devices to recognize, interactand/or identify each other and/or enable interoperability there between.

In response to such user or system input, the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device provides information (for example, dataand/or instructions) to the first and second devices that facilitate orallow such pairing or registering. Here, the pairingfacilitator-intermediary may employ an existing secure connection to thefirst and second devices to provide information of the requestedpairing/registering to one or both of the first and second devices. Notethat communication between the first device and the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device, between the second device and thepairing facilitator-intermediary device and between the first and seconddevice via the pairing facilitator-intermediary device may be secure dueto the completion of pairing between the first device and the pairingfacilitator and the completion of pairing between the second device andthe pairing facilitator. The direct communication between the first andsecond device may not be considered secure before the first and seconddevices are paired. The information of the requested pairing/registeringmay be suitable for the devices to perform a pairing/registeringoperation with each other. For example, the information may include anidentifier for the intended pairing/registering partner, and a secretcode, key or data that may be used or communicated as out-of-band-data(for example, via short-range communication—such as a short-rangewireless technique) between the first and second device. Notably,out-of-band-data is data which is communicated or transmitted viaout-of-band-communication, which may be characterized as communicationthrough a second communication method or channel. Note thatout-of-band-data may be data which is communicated though the sameelectromagnetic frequency band (in the specific case of typical wirelesscommunication) using different methods or protocols than the first“in-band” communication (for example, the communication technique and/orprotocol employed by the first and/or second device in conjunction withthe facilitator-intermediary device).

The first and second devices, after receipt of the information from thepairing facilitator-intermediary device, may automatically pair,register and/or recognize with each other, for example, via use of theout-of-band secret to authenticate the pairing attempt. Thereafter, thefirst and second devices are paired or registered to, for example,enable interoperability there between.

Notably, in one embodiment, the first and second devices may employ anycommunication technique and/or protocol now known or later developedincluding, for example, short-range (for example, less than 20 feet, andpreferably less than 10 feet, and more preferably, less than 5 feet)wireless techniques including, for example, NFC, RFID or Bluetoothprotocols and/or techniques. In one embodiment, such short-rangecommunication techniques facilitate private, secret data exchange.

In another embodiment, the present inventions may be implemented whereonly one of the first and second devices (i.e., the devices to be pairedor registered such as a portable biometric monitoring device and aportable computing device (for example, smartphone)) communicates withthe pairing facilitator-intermediary device. (See, FIG. 7). In thisembodiment, the pairing facilitator-intermediary device provides pairingor registering information (for example, data and/or instructions) toboth devices to facilitate or allow pairing or registering. Thereafter,the first and second devices may complete the pairing operation asdescribed above in connection with FIG. 6.

With reference to FIG. 8, in another embodiment, both the first andsecond devices provide data to the pairing facilitator-intermediarydevice—however, the pairing facilitator-intermediary device providespairing or registering information (for example, data and/orinstructions) to only one of the first and second devices. In thisembodiment, the first and second devices employ such information to pairor register, for example, via the techniques described above. That is,the pairing facilitator-intermediary employs an existing secureconnection to the first device to provide such pairing or registeringinformation. The first device may use such information to perform apairing/registering operation with the second device. For example, thepairing or registering information may include an identifier for theintended pairing/registering partner, and a secret that may be used orcommunicated as out-of-band-data (for example, via short-rangecommunication—such as a short-range wireless technique). The firstdevice, after receipt of such information from the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device, may automatically initiate the pairingor registering operation with the second device, for example, via use ofthe out-of-band secret to authenticate the pairing attempt. Thereafter,the first and second devices are paired or registered to, for example,enable interoperability there between.

Indeed, in another embodiment, only one of the first and second devicesincludes any communication with the pairing facilitator-intermediarydevice. (See, FIG. 9). In this embodiment, the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device (such as a web service hosted on aninternet connected server) may provide pairing or registeringinformation to the first device (for example, a portable computingdevice, laptop and/or smartphone) to allow or enable pairing/registeringoperation with the second device (for example, a portable biometricmonitoring device or other device having limited user interface andconnectivity). The pairing facilitator-intermediary device may againemploy the existing secure connection to the first device to providesuch information. In response, the first device may initiatepairing/registering and use the information to perform apairing/registering operation with the second device. Here again, theinformation may include an identifier for the intendedpairing/registering partner, and a secret (for example, a secret code,key or instruction (which may initiate or implement a certain operationsuch as, for example, generation of a code) that may be used orcommunicated as out-of-band-data (for example, via short-rangecommunication—such as a short-range wireless technique). Thereafter, thefirst and second devices may “complete” the pairing operation asdescribed above.

There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. Whilecertain embodiments, features, attributes and advantages of theinventions have been described and illustrated, it should be understoodthat many others, as well as different and/or similar embodiments,features, attributes and advantages of the present inventions, areapparent from the description and illustrations. As such, theembodiments, features, attributes and advantages of the inventionsdescribed and illustrated herein are not exhaustive and it should beunderstood that such other, similar, as well as different, embodiments,features, attributes and advantages of the present inventions are withinthe scope of the present inventions.

For example, although the embodiments described herein employ first andsecond devices communicating directly after receipt of the pairing orregistering information from the pairing facilitator-intermediarydevice, such communication may be via a third device and/or via thepairing facilitator-intermediary device. As such, in this exemplaryembodiment, not only is the communication between the first and seconddevices indirect—the actual pairing/registering function or interactionmay be indirect, for example, via the third device. (See, for example,FIGS. 7-14).

In addition, as noted above, the first and second devices to be paired,identified or registered may communicate with the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device directly and/or via an interface device.(See, FIGS. 15A and 15B, respectively). Here, communication between thefirst and second devices to be paired, identified or registered and thepairing facilitator-intermediary device is enabled or provided through,for example, client programs, which operate or run on the interfacedevice (for example, the computing or communication device (such as asmart phone, router, and/or computer)).

Notably, the present inventions may be advantageous where one or both ofthe devices to be paired or registered do not include or employ thefunctionality and/or circuitry that enables or permits pairing and/orregistering of the devices. For example, where the device to be pairedor registered does not possess a, or employ its user interface and/orcommunication circuitry which is suitable for selection, entering and/orpassing out-of-band data.

In the case where it is desirable to pair a single first device to oneor more other devices, (for example, a second and third device as seenin FIG. 16), a pairing facilitator may send and/or receive data and/orinstructions from a second device which is already paired to the firstdevice to a pairing facilitator-intermediary device. The pairingfacilitator-intermediary device may also send and/or receive data and/orinstructions with the third device to facilitate the pairing of thefirst device to the third device. Notably, the embodiment of FIG. 16 maybe employed in connection with other embodiments described and/orillustrated herein (for example, FIGS. 6-14).

It should also be noted that in some embodiments of the presentinventions, the pairing facilitator-intermediary device may consist of achain or network of one or more pairing facilitator-intermediary devicesin communication with each other (see FIG. 17). That is, although thepairing facilitator-intermediary device is primarily described andillustrated as one device—the pairing facilitator-intermediary devicemay include a plurality of interconnected devices—for example, theembodiments of FIGS. 6-14 may be implemented using or with a pluralityof pairing facilitator-intermediary devices. For the sake of brevity,those embodiments will not be repeated with a plurality of pairingfacilitator-intermediary devices.

Further, in one embodiment, the second device (for example, a portablebiometric monitoring device) may employ circuitry in the first device(for example, a smartphone, laptop and/or tablet) to communicate (forexample, send and/or receive data and/or instructions) with the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device. (See, FIG. 15C). Here, the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device may send the information (for example,data and/or instructions (for example, a secret code, data or key)) tothe second device via the first device and, using that information (forexample, data and/or instructions), the first and second devices maysubsequently communicate to implement the pairing or registeringprocess. Thus, the first device (which function or operates as aninterface device for the second device) allows, enables or permits thesecond device to communicate (and, in one embodiment, pair) to thepairing facilitator-intermediary device to subsequently pair and/orregister the first and second devices. Note that the second device maycommunicate through a secure communication channel to the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device using communication circuitry on thefirst device to transfer communication from the second device to thepairing facilitator-intermediary device and/or transfer communicationfrom the pairing facilitator-intermediary device to the second devicebefore and/or after pairing using techniques such as encryption,obfuscation, or any other method which makes it impossible or difficultfor the first device to intercept, interpret, and/or modify data orinstructions sent from the second device to the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device and/or data or instructions sent fromthe pairing facilitator-intermediary device to the second device.

Notably, in one embodiment, the first device of FIG. 15C may be one ormore of the biometric monitoring devices described and/or illustrated inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/346,275, entitled “BiometricMonitoring Device having Body Weight Sensor, and Methods of OperatingSame”, filed Jan. 9, 2012, Inventor: Yuen et al. (which is incorporatedherein, in its entirety, by reference). For example, in one embodiment,a second device, for example, a portable activity monitoring device (forexample, a device as or like that illustrated in FIGS. 1-5) communicateswith the pairing facilitator-intermediary device via a biometricmonitoring device (for example, of the type described and/or illustratedin the '275 application). That is, in one embodiment, the first and/orsecond devices communicate(s) (for example, pair and/or register) withthe facilitator-intermediary device (for example, a server) and receiveinformation such as data and/or instructions (for example, a secretcode, data or key) which is to be used in the pairing or registeringprocess between the first and second devices (here, a portable activitymonitoring device and a biometric monitoring device having a body weightsensor). The pairing facilitator-intermediary device provides theinformation to the second device via the first device (for example,using communication circuitry of the first device). Notably, the pairingfacilitator-intermediary device may also send information to the firstdevice.

Using the information (for example, a secret code, data or key), thefirst and second devices may subsequently communicate to pair orregister to enable interoperability between the first and second devicesand/or an initialization process which creates a link (for example, alasting and/or sustainable link) between two or more devices tofacilitate, allow and/or make possible future communication between thedevices. Indeed, after the pairing or registering process is complete,the first and/or second devices may save information about one or moreof the other devices so that when a new, subsequent and/or futurecommunication link is to be set-up, little or no user interaction isrequired to create the connection.

Importantly, the present inventions are neither limited to any singleaspect nor embodiment thereof, nor to any combinations and/orpermutations of such aspects and/or embodiments. Moreover, each of theaspects of the present inventions, and/or embodiments thereof, may beemployed alone or in combination with one or more of the other aspectsof the present inventions and/or embodiments thereof.

Notably, the present inventions may be employed in conjunction with theinventions described and/or illustrated in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/785,904, which is hereby incorporated by reference. For example,after pairing of the first and second devices using any of theembodiments described and/or illustrated herein, such first and seconddevices may communicate using the circuitry, architectures and/ortechniques described and/or illustrated in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/785,904 (Entitled “Near Field Communication System, and Method ofOperating Same”, Inventor: Park, Filed on Mar. 15, 2013). For the sakeof brevity, such combinations will not be set forth in detailherein—except by reference.

It should be noted that the devices, circuitry, architectures and/orstructures disclosed herein (circuitry of the processing device, sensordevice and/or proxy device) may be described using computer aided designtools and expressed (or represented), as data and/or instructionsembodied in various computer-readable media, in terms of theirbehavioral, register transfer, logic component, transistor, layoutgeometries, and/or other characteristics. Formats of files and otherobjects in which such structure expressions may be implemented include,but are not limited to, formats supporting behavioral languages such asC, Verilog, and HLDL, formats supporting register level descriptionlanguages like RTL, and formats supporting geometry descriptionlanguages such as GDSII, GDSIII, GDSIV, CIF, MEBES and any othersuitable formats and languages. Computer-readable media in which suchformatted data and/or instructions may be embodied include, but are notlimited to, non-volatile storage media in various forms (for example,optical, magnetic or semiconductor storage media) and carrier waves thatmay be used to transfer such formatted data and/or instructions throughwireless, optical, or wired signaling media or any combination thereof.Examples of transfers of such formatted data and/or instructions bycarrier waves include, but are not limited to, transfers (uploads,downloads, e-mail, etc.) over the Internet and/or other computernetworks via one or more data transfer protocols (for example, HTTP,FTP, SMTP, etc.).

Indeed, when received within a computer system via one or morecomputer-readable media, such data and/or instruction-based expressionsof the circuitry of the processing device, sensor device and/or proxydevice within the computer system in conjunction with execution of oneor more other computer programs including, without limitation, net-listgeneration programs, place and route programs and the like, to generatea representation or image of a physical manifestation of suchstructures. Such representation or image may thereafter be used indevice fabrication, for example, by enabling generation of one or moremasks that are used to form various components of the structures in adevice fabrication process.

Moreover, the various devices, circuitry, architectures and/orstructures disclosed herein may be represented via simulations usingcomputer aided design and/or testing tools. The simulation of thecircuitry of the processing device, sensor device and/or proxy device,and/or characteristics or operations thereof, may be implemented by acomputer system wherein characteristics and operations of suchstructures, and techniques implemented thereby, are imitated, replicatedand/or predicted via a computer system. The present inventions are alsodirected to such simulations of the inventive structures, and/ortechniques implemented thereby, and, as such, are intended to fallwithin the scope of the present inventions. The computer-readable mediacorresponding to such simulations and/or testing tools are also intendedto fall within the scope of the present inventions.

The term “non-pairable user interface” if/when used in the claims means,among other things, a user interface that is not configured, enabled orsuitable to pair and/or register an associated device, for example, byselecting or entering data or commands to a device to which it is to bepaired (for example, via communicating data or commands using anout-of-band protocol/technique (relative to communicationprotocol/technique in connection with the pairing to thefacilitator-intermediary device).

Further, in the claims, the phrase “in response to pairing to thefacilitator-intermediary device” has no express or implied immediatetemporal component, implication or inference and, as such, an operationor action “in response to pairing to the facilitator-intermediarydevice” may be immediately after pairing or anytime thereafter.

Notably, the terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denoteany order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguishone element from another. Moreover, in the claims, the terms “a” and“an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denotethe presence of at least one of the referenced item.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for pairing a portable monitoring devicewith a computing device, the method comprising: the first computingdevice: sending, to a server, an instruction to facilitate pairing ofthe portable monitoring device with the first computing device;receiving, from the server, first pairing information including anidentifier of a second computing device previously paired with theportable monitoring device; receiving, from the server, first pairinginformation including an identifier of a second computing devicepreviously paired with the portable monitoring device; sending the firstpairing information, including the identifier, from the first computingdevice to the portable monitoring device; receiving second pairinginformation from the portable monitoring device, the second pairinginformation being obtained by the portable monitoring device from theserver via the second computing device using the identifier; and pairingthe first computing device with the portable monitoring device based onthe first pairing information and the second pairing information,wherein pairing the first computing device with the portable monitoringdevice comprises creating a communication link between the firstcomputing device and the portable monitoring device.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: the pairing is configured to facilitate a transfer ofactivity data from the portable monitoring device to the first computingdevice, the method further comprises receiving by the first computingdevice the activity data from the portable monitoring device via thelink, and the activity data is representative of a physiological metriccollected by one or more sensors embedded in the portable monitoringdevice.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: providing accessto a user account on a display device of the first computing device viaa web service; and displaying the activity data on the display device.4. The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving by the firstcomputing device the activity data from the portable monitoring devicevia the communication link.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein theactivity data is representative of a physiological metric collected byone or more sensors embedded in the portable monitoring device.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first pairing information furtherincludes an identifier of the portable monitoring device and a firstsecret code.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein: the second pairinginformation includes an identifier of the second computing device and asecond secret code.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the portablemonitoring device does not transmit data directly to the server.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the receiving by the first computing deviceof the first pairing information and the sending of the first pairinginformation from the first computing device to the portable monitoringdevice are performed automatically.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein:the portable monitoring device comprises a biometric device and thefirst computing device comprises at least one of: a smart phone, atablet, and computer, wherein the biometric device includes a displayunit to display information, and the biometric device is configured tobe worn by a user.
 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: theportable monitoring device communicating bi-directionally with theserver via a computer network to send data to the server and to receivethe second pairing information from the server.
 12. The method of claim1, wherein: the portable monitoring device lacks a user interface forreceiving a pairing selection, and the portable monitoring device has adead front display.
 13. A first computing device comprising: a userinterface configured to receive a selection of a portable monitoringdevice for pairing with the first computing device; a communication unitconfigured to: send via a computer network to a server an instruction tofacilitate pairing the portable monitoring device with the firstcomputing device, receive, via the computer network from the server,first pairing information including an identifier of a second computingdevice previously paired with the portable monitoring device, send thefirst pairing information to the portable monitoring device, receivesecond pairing information from the portable monitoring device, thesecond pairing information being obtained by the portable monitoringdevice from the server via the second computing device using theidentifier; and a processor configured to pair the first computingdevice with the portable monitoring device based on the first pairinginformation and the second pairing information, wherein pairing thefirst computing device with the portable monitoring device comprisescreating a communication link between the first computing device and theportable monitoring device.
 14. The first computing device of claim 13,wherein: the communication unit configured to receive activity data fromthe portable monitoring device via the link, and the activity data isrepresentative of a physiological metric collected by one or moresensors embedded in the portable monitoring device.
 15. The firstcomputer device of claim 13, wherein: the first pairing informationfurther includes an identifier of the portable monitoring device and afirst secret code, and the second pairing information includes anidentifier of the second computing device and a second secret code. 16.The first computing device of claim 13, wherein the portable monitoringdevice does not transmit data directly to the server.
 17. The firstcomputing device of claim 13, wherein the communication unit is furtherconfigured to receive the first pairing information from the server andsend the first pairing information the portable monitoring deviceautomatically.
 18. The first computing device of claim 13, wherein: theuser interface is configured to provide access to a user account via aweb service, and the user interface includes a display device configuredto display the activity data.
 19. The first computing device of claim13, wherein: the portable monitoring device comprises a biometric deviceand the first computing device comprises at least one of: a smart phoneor a tablet or a computer, the biometric device includes a display unitto display information, and the biometric device is configured to beworn by a user.
 20. The first computing device of claim 13, wherein theportable monitoring device is configured to communicate bi-directionallywith the server via the computer network to send data to the server andto receive the second pairing information from the server.
 21. The firstcomputing device of claim 13, wherein: the portable monitoring devicelacks a user interface for receiving a selection, and the portablemonitoring device has a dead front display.
 22. A non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereonthat, when executed cause a processor of a first computing device to:send, to a server, an instruction to facilitate pairing of a portablemonitoring device with the first computing device; receive, from theserver, first pairing information including an identifier of a secondcomputing device previously paired with the portable monitoring device;send the first pairing information, including the identifier, from thefirst computing device to the portable monitoring device; receive secondpairing information from the portable monitoring device, the secondpairing information being obtained by the portable monitoring devicefrom the server via the second computing device using the identifier;and pair the first computing device with the portable monitoring devicebased on the first pairing information and the second pairinginformation, the pairing performed to begin a transfer of activity datafrom the portable monitoring device to the first computing device,wherein pairing the first computing device with the portable monitoringdevice comprises creating a link between the first computing device andthe portable monitoring device.
 23. The non-transitory computer readablestorage medium of claim 22, wherein the first pairing informationincludes an identifier of the portable monitoring device and a secretcode.